Feiedeich baum



i. ITED A su STATES PATENT OEEICE.

FRIEDRICH BAUM, OF BRESLAU, PRUSSIA, GERMANY.

FIRE-PROOF4 CEILING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 236,761, dated January 18, 1881. Application filed Septembel; 8, 1880. (No model.) Patented in Germany August 22, 1879.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRIEDRICH BAUM, of the city of Breslau, Kingdom of Prussia, German Empire, have invented an Improvement in Fire-Proof Ceilings, of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is to furnish for houses, stables, and other covered spaces an improved tire-prooi' ceiling of plaster-of-paris,

' ing-frameof suitable length, which is temporarily secured to the beams above, the frame being removed after the panel is dry. Each frame is provided with a longitudinal side strip, which serves as a gage to indicate the thickness of the layer of plaster and to obtain an accurate meeting-edge for the adjoining panel.

In the accompanying' drawings, Figure l represents a vertical section of my improved tire-proof ceiling, shown in process of construction. Fig. 2 is a bottom view of the beams and a panel-forming frame. Fig. 3 is a vertical transverseV section through one of the panel-forming frames on an enlarged scale. Fig. 4 is a detail top view of a frame used for makin g center ornaments or rosettes, and Fig. 5 are detail side views of the nails used for supporting the transverse Wires.

Similar letters of reference indicate correspondin g parts.

In the drawings, A represents a number of strong wires, which arestretched at suitable distances from each other andtransversely to the beams from one wall to the other. The wiresA are protected against rusting by being galvanized or coated with wood-tar. For

the purpose of applying the wires it is best to make the same equal in length to the width of the room or space to be covered and attached at each end by means of t a loop to a notch cut into the end nails, B. The end nails are driven, as near as possible to the side walls, into the beams in such a manner that they are inline with each other and that the notches are nearly as possible equidistant from the beams. One end of each wire is first securely attached to one ofthe end nails,and then the other end,by driving in the nail and securing the wire loop in similar manner. The Wires are supported at intermediate points by nails B', provided either with end hooks or with eyes, as shown in Fig. 5. Vhen nails with hooks are used the Wires are slipped on, while when nails with eyes are used they are strung upon the wires before driving in the second end nail, and finally driven into the intermediate beams in such a manner that the wires are as nearly as possible in a horizontal plane and equidistant from the bottom ot' the beams. This is readily obtained by driving in the intermediate nails 'wherever there are slight unevennesses in the wires. The wires have to be supported at a suitable distance from the bottom of the beams, according to the greater or less thickness of the ceiling and according to the greater or less distance at which the sameis to be suspended from the bottom of the beams. It is obvious that the length ot' the nails has to be in proportion to these conditions.

The ceiling is constructed in panels, which are laid on from above, through the space between. the beams, upon horizontal supportingframes C, which are rigidly secured in position at the proper distance from the bottom ofthe beams by means of gimlets D of suitable length. Along one edge of the supporting-frame D is arranged a gage-strip, D', by which the thickness of the ceiling is regulated. These gage-strips serve at the same time for producing as smooth a meeting-edge as possible for the adjoining panel. In the panel next to the wall the thickness of the same is simply regulated by the gimlets. The edge of this panel forms the support for the frame in formingthe next panel, as shown in Fig. 3. After completing the second panel the frame is moved to the space between the next beams for forming the third panel, and so on. When all the panels of the ceiling are completed the joints are revised and filled at the defective places with plaster, which is carefully smoothed down.

IOC

The curved corner-molding (shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1) is finished at the same time with the plastering of the walls. The cornices and frieze-strips are readily secured by means of wire anchors from the ceiling. The centerpieces or rosettes are formed by means of special molding-frames (shown in Figs. 1 and 4) after the remaining panels have been laid on. The plaster is cast into these molding-frames from above in the same manner as the panels, and the ceiiter-pieces thereby formed in a cheaper and more convenient manner than at present. In smaller rooms the entire panel between two beams may be laid on by one frame of corresponding size, while for larger spaces it is preferable not to extend the length ot' the frames beyond nineor ten feet, so as not to make the handling ot' the saine too unwieldy and difficult. When quickly-setting plaster is used two frames are sntiieient fortwo workmen, as the plaster of one panel will set during the time the adjoining panel is laid on. In case any other slowly-setting material, like lime, cement, Sie., is used, a greater ininiber of frames is required. Any cracks in the ceiling are filled up from below and smoothed out. To make the ceiling as little expensive as possible it is advisable to use coarse sami, pebbles, or broken stones with the plaster or lime.

The frames C are made in substantial inanner with transverse strengthelling-strips and perfectly smooth top surface. They arc soaked with oil and covered with varnish for the purpose of preventing the warping or shrinkage of the wood by the influence ot' the moist plaster. To prevent the adhesion of the plaster to thc frame the top surface ot the same is coated before the panels are laid on with oil, tallow, or soap, or covered with paper. As soon as the panels are laid the lower rough tloor,which is shown in Fig. 1 and indicated by the letter l", is put down,so as to protect the ceiling against injury from above.

A ceiling so constructed has the following advantages, to wit: First, it is constructed with less expense, and adapted, owing to its smooth surface, for painting directly thereon, which is not the case with the present ceilings; secondly, the ceiling is more durable than the old style, because there is no wood used for supporting the saine; thirdly, the beams are preserved for a greater length of time, on account of the air-space between the ceiling and the beams; fourthly, the ceiling forms a protection for the beams and Hoor ing above in case of tire below; fthly, it is especially adapted for stables, as no injurious influence is exerted upon the feed stored above, on account of the circulation of air between the beams and the ceiling; and, sixthly, the ceiling can be used with advantage for all spaces where heat and moisture might otherwise exert a destructive inlluence upon the beams.

I am aware that interwoven wires as a support for a ceiling have been used heretofore, and I therefore lay no claim,broadly,to a wire lathing. I am also aware that the ceiling has been laid from above by applying the plastic inaterialon atemporary support; butin neither case was the ceiling supported at a certain distance below the bottom of the beams, so that a circulating air-space wasobtained,which forms one of the main advantages of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. Inatire-proofceiling,thecombination,with the supporting-beams and transverse wires secured thereto by hangers at some distance below the bottom of the beains,of panels of plaster or other material laid around the wires, so that a circulating air-space is formed between the ceiling and the bottom of the beams, substantially as set forth.

2. The method herein described of making ceilings, consisting in arranging temporarily below the beams a longitudinal supporting frame or frames, then applying the material in a plastic state from above in such a manner that one panel is formed successively after the other on the frame or frames and around supportingwvires ruiming transversely to and at some distance from the bottom of the beams, substantially as described.

3. As an improvement in making ceilings, the suppportiiig-trames for forming the panels, having a longitudinal gage-strip along one side, substantially as specified.

ln testimony whereof I have signed my naine to this specification in the presence ot' two subscribing witnesses.

FRIEDRICH BAUM.

Witnesses:

CARL FEHLERT, BERTHOLD R01. 

